Floor-scrubbing machine.



. DEAM.

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25. 191s.

Patented Sept. 10,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Witwe H. Ni. DEAIV.

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2s, IsIs.

Patented Sept. 10,1918

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

@mw/'MM M@ @gm Mwm HELEN M. BEAM, oF RocKroaT, iLLIiNoIs.

FLOOR-SCRUBBING- MACH-INE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Sept., 10, 1918.

Application f led November 26, 1915. Serial No. 63,5'35.

This invention comprehends the provision of a floor scrubbing machine ofnovel construction, and by means of wlnch the per- Y formance of thisduty is rendered considerably less laborious.A y y kThe invention aimsto prov-ide a machine of this'character embodying among other features,a scrubbing element operable as the machine is moved over the surface tobe cleaned, and a water supply tank, with means for controlling the flowof water to the scrubbing element.

In carrying out my invention I provide a machine of the class inquestion, constructed to receive a cleaning powder or subst-ance,together with means for distributing the substance upon the floor orsurface to be cleaned, in advance of the scrubbing element in anydesired quantity, as the machine is moved over the floor.

Another object ot importance resides in the provision of means forrelieving the scrubbing element of its dirty water` and directing thesame into a suitable receptacle Uor compartment in the machine, fromwhich it may be readily discharged when desired.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a resilient meansoperable to effectively maintain the scrubbing element in engagementwith the surface bein cleaned, thereby rendering themachine eceptionally efficient for the purpose intended.

Other' objects will appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the .following description, wherein the specificconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, of one embodiment ofthe invention are more fully set forth.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein fFigure l is a top plan view of the machine showing the water tank partlybroken away to show the interior tlereof.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view.

Before entering into a detailidescription of .my invention I desire tohave it understood that the device hereinafterdescribed and illustrated,is merely one embodiment of the invention, and that various changes inthe construction and arrangement and proportionv may be resorted to whendesired as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

The machine in this particular instance embodies a bottomless casingindicated generally at A and including side walls 5, end wallsG and atop 7, 8 indicating a reinforcing band disposed exteriorly of the casingand secured thereto by means of the rivets or other suitable fasteningelements 9.

Journaled between the side walls 5 adjacent the oppositeendsof thecasing are shafts 10, upon which are fixed wheels 11 to permit thecasing to be readily and easily moved over the surface to be cleaned.Passed tra-nsiersely through the casing at a point-approximatelycentrally thereof, lis a shaft 12 projecting a slight distance beyondthe opposite sides 5, and upon the extremities of this shaft isswingingly secured, in any suitable manner, a yoke 13 of which thehandle 14 forms a part. f K

As shownA in this instance thescrubbing element is in the nature of amop, consisting of an endless belt 15 movable over the shafts 10. Theopposite side walls 5 are each provided adjacent their lower edge withspaced alined vertically disposed elongated slots 16 which receive thespaced parallel Atransversely extending rods 17, and upon which rods aremounted a resilient shoe for the purpose of e'ectively maintaining thelower run of the mop i-n engagement with the surface being cleaned. Theshoe consists of a plate of resilient metal, the bottom 18 of whichnormally bears against the lower run` of the belt, while the upturnedends are coiled about the rods 17. I further provide springs 20 havingtheir ends passing through slots in the shoe and coiled loosely upon therods 17 and having an upwardly bowed portion bearing against theshaft'12 thereby holding the shoe in operative position with relation tothe mop. The slots 16 permit the shoe to have a slight verticalmovement, when excess pressure is brought to bear upon the machine. l

Mounted upon the top 7 and fitted between the flanges rising therefromis a water tank 21 having a transverse series of nipples 22 top 7 of thecasing, by means of which communication is established between the watertank and the interior of the casing to permit the water to be fed uponthe mop or scrub` bing element 15. Journaled between the side walls ofthe tank 21 is a transverse shaft 23 having a plurality of crankportions 24 with which the valves 25 are associated, the cranks beingnormally so disposed that the valves extend within the nipples 22thereby cutting oft communication between the water tank and casingrespectively. rlhe shaft 23 projects a slight distance beyond one sideof the water tank, and fixed upon-the eX- tremity of the shaft is alever 26 for the purpose of operating the shaft to open and close thevalves as the occasion may require. The tank is provided with anenlarged central filling openingv which is normally closed by means ofla cap 27. The tank is further provided at its opposite ends with handles28 for the purpose of removing the tank from the casing when desired.

The forward end of the casing is provided with a compartment 29 for thereception of a cleaning substance such as powder or the like, which isadapted to be distributed over the surface to be cleaned in advance ofthe scrubbing element 15. Mounted within the compartment 29 immediatelyadjacent the bottom thereof is a rotor 30, the shaft 31 of whichprojects beyond the side of the casing and has fitted thereon a pulley32 whichis connected by means of the belt 33 with a pulley 34 fittedupon the foremost shaft 10, whereby'the rotor 30 is operatedsimultaneously with the movement of the machine over the surface to becleaned. rlhe rotor serves to discharge the cleaning substance throughsuitable openings 35 in the bottom of the compartment, the particularamount discharged being controlled by a slide plate 36 mounted beneathsaid bottom and provided with a plurality of openings 37 which .areadapted to be brought into and out of registry with the openings 35.rlhe plate 36 is provided-with a handle 38 for the purpose of adjustingthe plate as described.

Arranged at a suitable point within the casing is a wringer consistingof a pair' of'superimposed rollers 39 lnormally held closely associatedby means' of the spring 40, and between which rollers the upper runLafrance of the scrubbing element passes. These rollers serve `to wringthe dirty water from the mop orcleaning element 15, which dirty water isreceived within a suitable receptacle 41, positioned immediately beneaththe said rollers. Extending from the bottom of the receptacle 4ladjacent the opposite sides of the machine are pipes 42 which lead to atank 43 at the rear of the machine, and through which pipes the dirtywater from the receptacle 41 is directed to and deposited within thetank 43. The bottom of theJ tank 43 is provided with a drain opening 44which is normally closed by means of a plug 45 mounted on the lower endof a rod 46, and by means of vwhich the plug may be removed from theopening to permit of the discharge of water from the tank when desired.

lt will be manifest from the foregoing descrption that ll have devised amachine of the vcharacter described, which is not onlyl very etcient forthe purpose intended, but by means of which a floor or other surface maybe expeditiously cleaned or scrubbed .at ease. lt is believed that fromthe foregoers journaled therein, an endless scrubbing member trainedaboutsaid rollers, a transverse shaft extending between said rollers andbeyond the sides of the casing, a handlel secured on the outer ends ofsaid shaft, and

means for resiliently urging the lower run .of said` scrubbing elementinto engagement with the floor, said means comprisingja pair oftransverse rods disposed within alined vertical slots in the sides ofthe casing, a plate bearing upon .the upper side of the lower run ofsaid scrubbing elementA and having its ends inclined upwardly and coiledabout-said transverse rods, and

`an upwardly bowed spring member bearing` against the lowerside of saidtransverse' shaft having its ends coiledabout said rods.

In testimony whereof 1 affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MRS. HELEN M. BEAM.

' Witnesses:

W. Gr. DRAM, T. V. FARRI'NGTON.

